MINing of Life

Friday, 9 May 2008

Update!Y

As I'd said before, it's time to update!

5 April,
NYGR Youth Congress: P2P Assembly
This was the very last day of our Youth Congress project, and this was the very day all 12 schools shared our projects, experiences and learning points with the guests from the education industries comprising teachers, principals and students from different schools, the MOE officials and of course the Guest-of-Honour Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee. Our Principal didn't come (but we all knew he'd love to if he could make it) but the Vice Principal Mdm So around to give us her support.

Let me bring you through the entire project...
1. the TKteam comprising Ryan Lai (team leader), Estee Chua (assistant leader), me (designer), Clarissa Cheng, Sharmane Ng, Ng Soo Han, Vivian Lin, Rifat Hidayat and Edwin Peter, were chosen to represent our beloved Tanjong Katong Secondary School for this project on youth problems.

2. We were introduced to the 4 topics in September last year, which was also the beginning of our journey. They were: Theft, Bullying, Gangsterism, Cyber-wellness; and my team chose Bullying because we felt that it's not really a crime, but it affects many people without them knowing that bullying is actually taking place and also, the consequences can be so bad that it may affect a person life-long.

3. We had a 3D2N camp at Serimbun Campsite, went through workshops and team-builing games and did many crazy things. I believed I'd posted some thoughts and feelings last December.

4. We brainstormed over the December holidays, came up with our logo, publicity materials, skit, seeking approval from the principal, contacting suppliers, everything. The blueprint was laid out, SET!

5. PHASE 1:Once school reopened, we continued to work on our plan and polished up everything to be prepared for the big day, the Anti-Bullying Day, on the 28th of January this year.
-Soo Han kicked it of by giving an opening speech to the entire school about our project. Then we gave out wristbands to every single TKsian including the teachers and non-teaching staff so that everyone could wear it to show their support.
-Up at the school hall, the 9 of us presented a skit on what's the wrong and the right thing to do when facing bullying situations to the lower secondary students.
-During the Character Education lesson for 3A and 3B, Ryan, Estee, Sharmane, Vivian, Soo Han and Edwin took charge and educate their classmates on anti-bullying, which include the game of "Deal or No Deal".
-The second part of the Character Education lesson was to head down to the assembly plaza for the Symbolic gesture. Parents joined in, lower secondary students joined in as it was their recess, teachers joined in, the Principals joined in, and the end product was just magnificant.
-We set up an Anti-Bullying booth and had the Parents Support Group to help us too. We believe that to resolve bullying problems, parents have to play their part and let their children know that they can always look up to their parents anytime for support. Anyone and everyone who passed by actually came to pen down their thoughts and feelings about bullying and our project, and later we put together all these little pieces of paper together to create our mural wall.

6. our aim is to raise awareness among people about the severity of bullying and the different types of bullying. PHASE 2: In order to reach out to more youths and the community, we sent out our brochures and posters to schools and community clubs, including Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary), Chung Cheng High (Main), Victoria School, Broadrick Sec, Northlight School, Geylang Serai CC and Marine Parade CC.

7. We didn't want to stop just there. PHASE 3: We visited 1 of TOUCH Yong Arrow's Clubs, the Marine Parade Club at Ngee Ann Primary to bring the anti-bullying message across to the kids. This group of children come from the lower income families with not a very good family background, hence they may be more prone to becoming a bully themselves, therefore our purpose to raise awareness among them.
-Instead of using powerpoint slide, we used majong paper and illustrated our points, and simplified the texts so that it was easier for the kids to understand. We introduced the different types of bullyings to them.
-We presented our entertaining skit to them as well.
-Kids love games, so we had interactive games with them and we all enjoyed ourselves.

8. Next up was to wrap up all we had done to prepare for our final presentation for judging. It was really difficult to meet up because of the different schedules we had due to our different classes, subject combinations and activity involvements. We actually had a proper rehearsal and finalised everything on judging day itself! TKsians are best at quality last minute work... opps, haha!

9. Upon knowing that we didn't had the best project, there wasn't much to worry about because we didn't had to present on P2P (peer-to-peer) Assembly. However, we had meetings to brainstorm about how we were suppose to set up our exhibition area, but we ended up playing and as usual, quality last minute work. I think we were the last school to leave the hotel the night before the assembly, which was the one and only preparation time.

I really want to thank NYGR (National Committee on Youth Guidance and Rehabilitation) and NYC (National Youth Council) for creating this Youth Congress. I've bonded so much with just people whom I initially acknowledge their existance (the other 8 of you), made new friends from the 11 other schools (especially PLMGSS)and TOUCH Youth Services (Mentos: Crystal, Li Juan, Andrew; Advisors: Uncle Lawrence, Karen).

My sweetest, richest and lowest point of life actually happened within that 6 months and it was really the TKteam which supported me to step out of my comfort zone to learn more and be the best I can ever be during the best times of my life, and always being there for me, cheering me on to strive on during the down periods. I'll never forget you people ever, for all of you are very precious to me. Thanks for all the encouragement and support, really.

I've learnt a lot and these experiences and lifeskills will live with me forever. It's difficult to just say verbally how I'm feeling right now because it's really something that you've to go through yourself to be able to understand that sense of satisfaction and enrichment each and every one of us have.